Details

Cutting-edge XC.

Turning the traditional concept of an XC fork upside down, the RockShox RS-1 RL Solo Air 120 (51mm Offset) 29in Fork w/Remote turns heads with inverted stanchions that improve fore/aft stiffness while remaining properly lubricated through its lifetime. When RockShox first introduced the RS-1, it was purely intended for competitive XC use, although many non-competitive riders were running it on their lightweight XC bikes just for fun. However, these same riders often noted the RS-1's firm sensation over small bumps at lower sag settings, mainly due to its Accelerator damping system tuned primarily for higher pressures famous to competitive XC racers.

Realizing these same riders desired the RS-1's lightweight efficiency and fore/aft stiffness, but with greater bump sensitivity for the trail, RockShox overhauled the original version into the RS-1 RL with the addition of the Charger 2 damper unit. By adding this more sensitive damper to the original RS-1's inverted chassis, the RS-1 RL becomes all the more trail-savvy—without the unrelenting firmness of a race-ready tune you'd expect from a competitive XC fork. This particular version packs 120-millimeters of travel, making it better suited for everyday trail rides on your lightweight, XC-style bike. That being said, it's still going to be on the XC end of the riding spectrum, due to its inverted 32-millimeter stanchions optimizing efficiency and steering precision over big-hit compliance.

Besides its Charger 2 damper unit overhaul, the RS-1 RL features a OneLoc remote that mounts on your handlebars for maintaining efficiency on uphill climbs and out-of-saddle sprints. This remote is compatible with RockShox Deluxe rear shocks, making it a great choice for XC riders seeking to lock out both the front and rear at the same time. Please note, the RS-1 RL is only compatible with SRAM's predictive steering hub with torque tube (sold separately), which bolsters extra stiffness over the front wheel to compensate for the skinnier lowers. It does come with a 15-millimeter Maxle Ultimate for a more secure attachment interface.